Vacuum relief and back-pressure valve



Dezn 4', 1923.

R. W. JONES VACUUM RELIEF AND BACK PRESSURE'VALVE Filed Nov. 29. 1920 l/llnll 4 1 HI] 0 I ll I Z 1 .J 9 W m a I H wW MI H H M 7. 3

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

ROBERT W. JONES, OF LONDON, OHIO.

VACUUM RELIEF AND BACK-PRESSURE VALVE.

Application filed November 29, 1920. Serial No. 426,967.

.To all @071 0m it may concern Be it known that I. ROBERT W. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at London, in the county of Madison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Relief and Back- Pressure Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vacuum relief valves more particularly designed for steamheating s stems.

The ob ect of my invention is to provide a relief valve which may be installed at any desired point upon the heating system for the purpose of relieving a vacuum and of a nature which will permit air to enter the system immediately upon a drop in the pressure therein, the inlet opening of which may, be properly sized to suit conditions at the particu ar point of installation, and thereafter remains fixed, so that a uniform pressure may be maintained at all points in the system; a further object of the invention being to provide a valve in which the noise of air passing therethrough is eliminated and in which the air.

In the accompanying drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a view of so much of a steam heating system as is necessary to illustrate' my invention, two of my improved valves being shown applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the valve. 7

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the perforated disks shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a steam radiator of any usual kind, which may be provided with any of the usual forms? of inlet and outlet valves (not shown) Whereby steam 'may be admitted thereto through the lead 2 from the main supply pipe 3, and

the steam and water of condensatlon dis charged therefrom through the lead 4 to the return main 5. The system to which my invention has been found to be particularly applicable is that of the vacuum type, although my valve may be applied to other types of steam heating systems with good results.

In Fig. 1, I have shown one of the valves installed in the su ply lead 2 and also one in the discharge lea 4, but a valve may be installed at any point in the system where it is provision is made for filtering I back pressure.

found that a vacuum pocket exists, either in'the main supply pipe, the return pipe or in any of the leads.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, 6 represents a casing divided by a Wall 7 into outer and inner chambers. Threaded on the exterior of the casing 6 is a cap 8. Located in the upper chamber is a disk 9 of felt or similar material and above and below this felt disk .are placed perforated sheet metal disks, 10 and 11, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 5. These disks are spaced from the division wall 7 and held in position by split spring rings 12 and 13.

The division Wall is provided With an aperture 14 to form a communication between the chambers, air being admitted to the outer-chamber through the apertures in the cap 8, 6 in the casing 6 and passageway 6 formed by reducing the upper end of the casing. Formed on the cap 8, about the opening 8 is a cover 8 open at one end, in which is inserted fibrous material 8, or some other similar material, to filter the air which enters the casing.

A nipple 15 is threaded in the support 6 to connect it to a T 15, inserted in the main or lead therefrom at the point where the installation is made. When the valve is installed in a supply main or lead, it is necessary to close the same to prevent escape of the steam therethrough and when it is installed in the return main or one of its leads, it is also desirable to close the valve against In order to accomplish this 'I provide a check valve in thenature of a ball 16, normally seated on a seat in a chambered plug 17, threaded in the support, the ball being forced by pressure against a seat at the lower end of the aperture 14 so as to close the same. The plug 17 has a central passageway 19 and a plurality of grooveways 20 in its upper surface leading thereto to permit passage of the air therethrough. The opening 14, is smaller than the opening 19 so that steam or back pressure will readily close the check valve.

By the construction described a valve is provided which in practice has been found to be effective for relieving vacuums in heating systems, the. essential features of which are that it is free from springs and thermostatic devices and is capable of having the air inlet made of a size to suit the eculiar conditions existing at the point of Installation" and thereafter remained fixedi chambers having an air inlet, and a check valve in. the other chamber to close said orifice under steam and back pressure, said orifice being otherwise open to admit air,

said latter chamber having a permanently open air outlet leading 'to the system.

2. In ,a steam heating system, an air re lief valve connected with said s stem, said valve having two chambers an an orifice connecting the same, one of said chambers having an air inlet, the area of said inlet being of a fixedcharacter and a check valve in the other chamber to close said orifice under steam and back pressure, said orifice being otherwise open to admit air, said latter chamber having a permanently open air inletleading to the system.

3. In a steam heating system, an air valve connected with said system, said valve having two chambers and an orifice connecting the same, one'of said chambers having an air inlet, a fibrous wali in said chamber between said air inlet andsaid orifice, and a check valve in the other chamber to close said orifice under steam and back pressure, said orifice being otherwise open to admit air, said latter chamber havingla permanently open air outlet leading to t e system.

4. In asteam heating system, an air valve I connected with said chamber, said valve having two chambers and an air orifice connectingthe same, one of said chambers having an air inlet, a perforated support in the other chamber, and a ball valve located on said support normally removed from said orifice but arranged to close the same under steam or back pressure, said orifice being otherwise open to admit air.

passageway therethrough open at all", times when the pressure in the system is less than atmospheric pressure, and a springless valve in said casing operated by the steam pressure in the system to close said passageway when said pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure, said valve being operated by gravity to open said air passageway when the pressure in the system is less than atmospheric pressure to permit air to enter the system.

6. In a steam heating system, a casing having an air inlet, a capthreaded on said casing having an air inlet, a passageway connecting said inlets, said casing having an intermediate restricted opening, a check valve in said casing for closing said restricted opening under back pressure, said restricted opening being otherwise open to admit air, said casing also having an air outlet.

7. In afluid pressure system, a casing connected with said system having two chambers with an orifice connecting the same,

one of said chambers having an inlet for outside atmosphere, a filtering and retarding medium in said chamber, said chambers having a passageway communicating with the system, a valve for normally closing the major portion of said passageway but leaving a part thereof open to permit the passage of air to the system, said valve acting to close the said orifice between -said chambers when the pressure in the system exceeds atmospheric pressure,

the other of said orifice being otherwise open to admit air.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November 1920.

ROBERT W. JONES.

Witnesses: r

. Grannies D. ANDERSON,

A. 'I. Coroner. 

